Advice for the Well-Dressed Ghost Hunter

[Palanan]

I need advice for a character who’s focused on hunting and dispatching ghosts and other incorporeal undead. For the build, I’m thinking some form of oradin, but my real concern here is finding the best gear to help with the mission.

The character will be fifth level, and I’m open to all first-party Pathfinder sources, as well as 3.5 sources if they’re especially helpful. For a character dedicated to laying ghosts to rest, what are the essential items for dealing with incorporeal foes?

[Rynjin]

Well, Ghost Touch is the obvious answer, but perhaps a bit too expensive for a 5th level character. So I present to you instead the (slightly) less costly option: the Ghost Salt weapon blanch (https://www.d20pfsrd.com/equipmenT/goods-and-services/herbs-oils-other-substances/#TOC-Weapon-Blanch).

At 200 gp a pop it's not exactly cheap, or cost-efficient compared to Ghost Touch if you plan to fight a lot of ghosts but you probably don't have 8k to spend all at once right now.

I'd also recommend getting your hands on a few Haunt Siphons (https://www.d20pfsrd.com/magic-items/wondrous-items/h-l/haunt-siphon/). Haunts, if you're unaware, are sort of the ghostly equivalent of traps (and usually infinitely more interesting).

As you can tell, low-mid level ghost hunting is all about copious consumable use outside of your class options. For those, I would make only one potential suggestion: try a Medium, they're neat.

[Palanan]

Originally Posted by Rynjin
Well, Ghost Touch is the obvious answer, but perhaps a bit too expensive for a 5th level character. So I present to you instead the (slightly) less costly option: the Ghost Salt weapon blanch.

I appreciate the suggestion, thanks.

On ghost touch options, I vaguely recall some sort of armor or item that confers a limited ghost touch ability. I can’t recall the details—it’s either from Pathfinder or the MIC. I know that doesn’t narrow it down much, but does it sound familiar?


Originally Posted by Rynjin
As you can tell, low-mid level ghost hunting is all about copious consumable use outside of your class options. For those, I would make only one potential suggestion: try a Medium, they're neat.

The medium is one class that never quite clicked for me. What in particular about a medium is well-suited for ghost hunting?

[Rynjin]

One of the big things is you won't need to buy the Haunt Siphons, they natively get that ability to damage and contain Haunts, and also get to ask them questions to boot (so you can figure out how to make them pass on permanently; destroyed Haunts reform just like ghosts if not laid to rest).

The Spirit Eater (https://www.d20pfsrd.com/alternative-rule-systems/occult-adventures/occult-classes/medium/archetypes/paizo-llc-medium-archetypes/spirit-eater-medium-archetype/) archetype can trade that for permanent Ghost Touch and the ability to eat and contain spirits of all sorts; so you can chow down on that pesky ghost until you figure out how to put it down for good.

[sleepyphoenixx]

On ghost touch options, I vaguely recall some sort of armor or item that confers a limited ghost touch ability. I can’t recall the details—it’s either from Pathfinder or the MIC. I know that doesn’t narrow it down much, but does it sound familiar?

MIC has several ghost touch options. The best are probably the Gauntlets of Ghostfighting (4k gp) for ghost touch on melee, ranged & spells and a free 1d6 vs incorporeal on melee attacks.

[Maat Mons]

Complete Adventurer has Ghostblight Capsules, which work pretty well for the job. As you go up in level, a Lesser Truedeath Crystal, from Magic Item Compendium, may be worth investing in.

[Kurald Galain]

The second-level spells Force Sword (https://www.d20pfsrd.com/magic/all-spells/f/force-sword), Ghost Whip (https://www.d20pfsrd.com/magic/all-spells/g/ghost-whip/), Instant Weapon (https://www.d20pfsrd.com/magic/all-spells/i/instant-weapon/), and Ghostbane Dirge (https://www.d20pfsrd.com/magic/all-spells/g/ghostbane-dirge/) may be of use here.

[Rynjin]

Ghostbane Dirge unfortunately has the drawback of giving a save, and is also not excluded from the "non-damaging spells only work 50% of the time on incorporeal creatures" clause. I never found it super useful.

[Palanan]

I appreciate all the excellent suggestions so far, they've been very helpful.

I'm not familiar with the medium at all. Could anyone suggest a basic, functional fifth-level build? Ideally would like to have this ready for a Friday night session, so a bit crunched for time.

[Kurald Galain]

I'm not familiar with the medium at all. Could anyone suggest a basic, functional fifth-level build?

I don't think anything about the medium relates to ghost hunting. The class's shtick is being able to switch between "party roles" each day, but in most parties that's completely unnecessary, and the medium ends up pretty weak at whatever role they're selecting.

A basic functional medium build is two levels of medium (marshall spirit) so you can add +1d6 to your teammates's rolls for free several times per day (which is a fun and effective support ability), then take your remaining levels in any class that has features related to ghost hunting, such as the cleric.

(edit) The Forum's view on the medium, here (https://forums.giantitp.com/showthread.php?652876-Tiering-the-Pathfinder-Classes-Medium-Adept-Vampire-Hunter-and-Psychic&p=25674024). The best way to play one is probably to permanently stick to Archmage spirit, meaning you become a partial caster with very low spells known, but that can switch them once per day. But if you play a medium without role switching, you'd be more effective as a bard or magus, really.

[Palanan]

Originally Posted by Rynjin
The Spirit Eater (https://www.d20pfsrd.com/alternative-rule-systems/occult-adventures/occult-classes/medium/archetypes/paizo-llc-medium-archetypes/spirit-eater-medium-archetype/) archetype can trade that for permanent Ghost Touch and the ability to eat and contain spirits of all sorts; so you can chow down on that pesky ghost until you figure out how to put it down for good.

This looks like a decent theme for a ghost-hunting medium. Can anyone suggest the basics for a fifth-level build? Game is this evening, so even a basic build around this concept would be very helpful.

[Rynjin]

I don't think anything about the medium relates to ghost hunting.

?

Half the class's features deal with defeating and making use of Haunts, and Location Channel allows you to ask questions of a ghost and determine the proper method of laying it to rest.

@Palanan: You're best off building pretty similarly as any 6-caster, with a focus on your casting stat (Cha), but a bit in the "fighty" capability as well, so I suggest Dex.

There are a lot of good Dex/Cha races, including the Azata-blooded Aasimar, which is appropriate, but the Shabti (https://www.d20pfsrd.com/races/other-races/more-races/advanced-races-11-20-rp/shabti/) is an interesting thematic option with a Con/Cha statline.

Given you're naturally inclined to Dex, your usual Dex based options like ranged attacks and Slashing/Fencing Grace are good.

Good general undead-hunting feats include Weapon Versatility (https://www.d20pfsrd.com/feats/combat-feats/weapon-versatility-combat/) and Ectoplasmic spell (https://www.d20pfsrd.com/feats/metamagic-feats/ectoplasmic-spell-metamagic/).

But your class features alone give you pretty much everything you need, so you can fill out everything else however you feel like.

[Palanan]

Originally Posted by Rynjin
*ghost-huntiness*

Perfect, and in the nick of time. Thank you kindly.

[Eldonauran]

Did you give any thought to the Spiritualist (https://aonprd.com/ClassDisplay.aspx?ItemName=Spiritualist) class? What better way to fight undead/ghosts than with an Outsider that can go toe-to-toe with them incorporeal or fully manifested? There are a number of archetypes that can flavor the class in various different ways.

[Rynjin]

Perfect, and in the nick of time. Thank you kindly.

How'd the game go BTW?

[Palanan]

Originally Posted by Rynjin
How'd the game go BTW?

Went very well, thanks. Definitely appreciate all the help on this.


Originally Posted by Eldonauran
Did you give any thought to the Spiritualist class? What better way to fight undead/ghosts than with an Outsider that can go toe-to-toe with them incorporeal or fully manifested? There are a number of archetypes that can flavor the class in various different ways.

Thanks for the suggestion, I hadn’t thought of that approach. Fact is, I had a hard time really getting my head around the spiritualist when I first read the class, and I haven’t made any use of it since then. But worth keeping in mind.

[Rynjin]

Spiritualist is basically a glorified Unchained SUmmoner archetype TBH.

It's not a bad class, and can be quite fun, but it really is basically just SUmmoner but your Eidolon is replaced by a ghost* made of spooky ectoplasm.

*Actually an Outsider.